Device for pushing and pulling implements, including cables, into and from conduits and the like

ABSTRACT

Device for pushing and pulling implements (e.g. pipe coating testers, pipe markers, pipe cleaners, pipe spray guns) along pipes or like elongated workpieces, said device having adjacent spools or reels with spirally coiled implement feeding and operating elements wound on the respective reels, the feeding element being operative to push and pull the implement into and from the pipe (or along the pipe) while the implement operating element is unwound from or rewound onto its reel.

United States Patent [72] Inventors William E. Raney [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 647,242 4/1900 Spraque 2,292,738 8/1942Bonney 2,956,779 10/1960 Prichard.. 3,042,375 3,301,533

511 Morewood Parkway, Rocky River, Ohio 441 16;

Milan J. Siebert, 5617 Onaway Oval,

Parma, 01110 44130 21 Appl.No. 762061 1221 File Salli-24,1968 Z1132?5822:1131... 1 Patented M42119" 3,355,149 11/1967Wiegelmann............,....

Primary Examiner-J-larvey C. l-lornsby Attorney0berlin, Maky, Donnelly &Renner ABSTRACT: Device for pushing and pulling implements (e.g. pipecoating testers, pipe markers, pipe cleaners, pipe spray guns) alongpipes or like elongated workpieces, said device having adjacent spoolsor reels with spirally coiled implement feeding and operating elementswound on the respective reels,

D M m n 0 M3 T 24 m .0 G 1 m N m mm an a P U DGE m3 N N A T G D NwNm m IF "0 H S Th wmT 7 91W "#3 snua R Dm m ONN FWOJ m E m .l M C w mu s DMFAU M T 1 b the feeding element being operative to push and pull theimplement into and from the pipe (or along the pipe) while the implementoperating element is unwound from or rewound onto its reel.

[51] Int. 866d 1/48 [50] Field of 254/150, 186, 173-175, 134.3 FT;15/1043; 73/150 PATENTED um I 2 l9?! SHEET 10F 3 INVENTOR S WILLIAM E,RA M/L/J/V J. SIEBERT ATTORNEYS PATENTEDunnznsn 3,612.48.

SHEET 30F 3 PUSH 38 PULL INVENTORS WILLIAM E. RA/VEY M/LA/V J. S/EBERTIan/4% ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR PUSHING AND PULLING IMPLEMEN'IS, INCLUDINGCABLES, INTO AND FROM CONDUITS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, the fish tape of acable puller is attached to an implement to move the latter in oppositedirections within a pipe or therealong, and a spirally coiled operatingelement wound on a reel adjacent the fish tape reel is also connected tothe implement to operate the latter. By way of illustrative examples,the implement may be a current leakage tester for determining flaws inpipe coatings, a marker having a solenoid operated marking pen formarking the loca tions of coating flaws indicated by the tester, a spraygun for coating a pipe, or a brush for cleaning a pipe; and in theserespective cases, the operating elements may comprise electric supplycables for the tester and marker, paint and/or airhoses for the spraygun, and a cleaning fluid supply hose and spray nozzle for the brush.

Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide a device ofthe character indicated wherein adjacent spools or reels have implementfeeding means and implement operating means coiled therearound formoving the implement in oppositedirections with respect to alongitudinally elongated workpiece such as a length of pipe or the like,and for operating the implement during either or both the feeding andreturn strokes of the implement.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device of thecharacter indicated in which the drive motor is equipped with a diskbrake or the like, the motor being deenergized and braked in response topredetermined pull-in of the feed element.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device of thecharacter indicated which has means responsive to predetermined pushingload on the feed element to deenergize the drive motor and to apply thebrake to arrest the feeding movement as when the implement attached tothe feed element encounters an obstruction in the pipe or the likethrough which the implement is being fed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device of thecharacter indicated having a novel reversing mechanism to effectmovement of the feeding and operating elements aforesaid in oppositedirections with respect to an elongated workpiece such as a pipe or thelike.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of a fewof the various ways in which the principle of the invention may beemployed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a devicefor testing the internal coating of a pipe and for marking the pipe atthe points where flaws are detected by the tester;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view, partly in cross section, as viewed alongthe line 2-2, FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section view taken substantially along the line 3-3,FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of the drive motor reversing mechanism takensubstantially along the line 4-4, FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of the embodiment of the inventionshown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to FIG. 1, except showinga device for testing the coating on the outside of a pipe while themarking device is operative also to mark the pipe whereat flaws aredetected by the tester; and

FIG. 7 is a similar top plan view showing an air spray gun which isbeing pulled through a length of pipe, compressed air and paint suppliedto the spray gun through hoses unwound from and rewound onto reelsadjacent the coil of the feeding element to which the spray gun isattached.

DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 5, the device 1shown for purposes of illustration is a coating flaw detector andmarkerand comprises a support 2 for a length of pipe P having aninternal coating of plastic or the like. Adjacent to one end of saidsupport 2 is a reversible drive motor 3 which through the worm unit 4,drives a shaft 5 on which spools 6 and 7 are keyed, said shaft 5 havingpinions 8 thereon each of which mesh with an internal gear 9 of a spool10 joumaled in a housing 11 as by rollers 12. Coiled around the spools 6and 7 are implement operating means 14 and 15 and coiled around thegear-driven spools 10 are implement feeding means l6;l6.

Each implement feeding means 16 comprises an elongated flexible elementpreferably of spring metal of rectangular cross section similar to thefish tapes employed in the cable pullers of the aforesaid Raney US. Pat.Nos. 2,556,484 and 2,718,376. The end of one element 16 is secured to acoating test unit 17 such as a contact brush movable lengthwise throughthe pipe P in contact with the plastic or like coating inside the pipeP. The other element I6 extends into a guide tube 19 and is secured to amarking device 18 which is guided along the guide tube 19 for movementlongitudinally along the outside of the pipe P, said marking device 18comprising, for example, a felt tip pen operated by solenoid 20 to placea mark on the pipe P whenever the contact brush l7 detects a flaw in theplastic coating inside the pipe P.

The implement operating means 14 and 15 herein comprise electric cablesto supply electric power to the bristles of the contact brush l7 and tothe solenoid 20 of the marking device Between the spools 6 and 7 and therespective implements 17 and 18 there are provided suitable accumulatorsor festoon units 21 and 22 to compensate for the changing diameters ofthe elements 14 and 15 as unwound from and rewound onto the spools 6 and7.

In use, when the motor 3 is energized to drive the spools 6, 7, and 10in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, the respectiveimplements l7 and 18 will be moved lengthwise within and along the pipeP. When the contact brush 17 comes into an area of the pipe P wherethere is an aperture in the plastic coating, or where the coating isthinner than desired, there will be current leakage thereat into themetal of the pipe P and when that occurs, a relay or the like (notshown) will be actuated to conduct electric current through the markeroperating element 15 to energize the solenoid 20 thereof to mark thelocation of the flaw. As evident, flaw detection and marking may be donein both directions of movement of the contact brush 17 and markingdevice 18.

One feature of the present invention is that the drive motor 3 isequipped with a disk brake 32 or the like operated by solenoid 34 (seeFIG. 5), the brake 32 being applied when the element 16 is pulled to theright as viewed in FIG. 1 to a predetermined extent. The brake operatorcomprises a sleeve member 23 biased by spring 24 to the position shownin FIG. 2. The feeding element 16 is provided with an enlargement 25adjacent its end, and when said enlargement 25 contacts the flexibleextension 26 attached to the end of the sleeve member 23, the latter ismoved to the right to open the limit switch 27 to deenergize the drivemotor 3 and to deenergize the solenoid 34 whereby the spring 33 appliesthe motor brake 32 as shock loads on the element 16 at the end of thepull stroke.

In the event that the implement l7 encounters an obstruction in the pipeP there is provided between two guide rollers 12 in the housing aspring-loaded roller 28 which, upon predetermined arching of the element16 opens the limit switch 29 to deenergize the motor 3 and to deenergizethe solenoid 34 to apply the brake 32.

FIG. 4 illustrates a novel contact arrangement for achieving operationof the drive motor 3 in opposite directions to push and to pull theimplements l7 and 18. This reversing control comprises brushes 30 and 31on a brush holder 35 which may be swung by handle 36 between the solidline pull position and the dot-dash line push position. On the brushholder 35 are auxiliary contacts 37 and 38 which cooperate withstationary contacts 39 and 40 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 5, the circuit is shown in the PULLposition (handle 36 in solid line position of FIG. 4) with the motor 3energized through closed contactor 41 of the solenoid 42 to drive thespools in clockwise direction (FIG. 2) to pull in the elements 16. Whenthe limit switch 27 is opened by movement of sleeve member 23 aspreviously described, the solenoid 42 is deenergizcd to move thecontactor 41 downwardly to open the motor circuit and to deenergize thebrake solenoid thus to apply the motor brake 32 through spring 33. Inthis way, the pulling operation is discontinued before the sleeve member23 reaches the limit of its rightward movement.

When it is desired to push the implements l7 and 18, the handle 36 ofthe brush holder 35 is shifted to the dot-dash PUSH position (FIG. 4) toopen the contacts 38 and 40 and to close the contacts 37 and 39 wherebysolenoid 42 is energized to move contactor 41 upwardly to close themotor and brake solenoid circuit. In the event that the implement 17encounters an obstruction, the element 16 will arch at the springloadedroller 28 to open the limit switch 29 thus to deenergize the solenoid 42to open the motor and brake solenoid circuit.

A remote control switch 43 may be provided as shown in FIG. 5 to stopthe pushing or pulling of the elements 16 at any time.

With reference to FIG. 6, this shows a single feeding element l6 andadjacent implement and marker operating cables 14 and for testing thecoating on an exteriorly coated pipe P and marking the exterior todenote the location of a flaw or flaws in the coating. In this case, thehigh-voltage testing element 42 is in the form of a ring contact brusharound the externally coated pipe making contact with the coating andbeing fed along with the marker by the single feeding elements 16.Connected to the testing element 44 is the high-voltage cable 14 whichis unwound and rewound onto the spool 6. The marking device 18 is alsoconnected to element 16, the cable 15 on spool 7 supplying electriccurrent for energizing the solenoid for the marking pen. In use, if thecurrent leaks through the coating to the metal of the pipe due toinsufficient thickness of the plastic coating or to an aperture in thecoating, the current leakage will efiect actuation of the marker 18whereby the felt tip marker pen or the line will place a mark on thepipe P. If the tester l7 and marker 18 are offset as shown, the flawwill be a specified distance to the left of the mark placed on the pipeP. If desired, a time delay dashpot or the like may be provided in themarker solenoid 20 calibrated according to the lineal speed of thetesting device so that the mark will be placed at substantially thelocation of the flaw in the pipe coating.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the implement there shown is a compressed airspray gun 45 which is connected to element 16 and which is fed therebylongitudinally into and from a length of pipe P which it is desired tointeriorly coat. Connected to the spray gun 45 and to the respectivespools 46 and 47 are air supply and paint supply hoses 48 and 49. Thepainting operation is preferably effected during the pull stroke of thefeeding element 16. It is to be understood that instead of an air spraygun 45, the spray gun may be the airless spray type in which case, noair supply hose is needed. Likewise, if the spray gun has its own paintsupply reservoir only the air supply hose need be connected to the gun.Furthennore, if the spray gun is of the electric type and contains itsown paint reservoir and pump, the operating element may be an electricconductor to actuate the electric motor or vibrator contained within thespray gun. Similarly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat electrostatic painting means may be provided if desired wherein thepipe wall is charged to attract paint particles from the spray gun.

It is also to be understood that the implement attached to flexibleelement 16 may be a pipe cleaning or scraping element and in that casethe operating element may be an electric cable or a hose for washingfluid as desired, the electric cable being operative to control a motoror the like associated with the cleaning or scraping element.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent ofsuch, be employed.

We therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as ourinvention:

1. In combination, spool means having an elongated element spirallycoiled therearound; a housing joumaling said spool means and rotatablyembracing the outer convolution of said element and having a passagethrough which said element is adapted to be payed out and to be pulledin responsive to rotation of said spool means in opposite directions insaid housing; a reversible electric drive motor operatively connected tosaid spool means thus to rotate said spool means in opposite directionsin said housing; movable means mounted at the passage of said housing,being urged in the direction of payout of said element and adapted to bemoved inwardly with said element upon engagement with an enlargementthereon; normally closed switch means operatively located in the path ofmovement of said movable means and adapted to be opened uponpredetermined pulling in of said element to open the drive motorcircuit; a member mounted in said housing, being urged against the outerconvolution of said element and adapted to be moved away therefrom uponarching of said element away from said spool means due to resistance topayout; another normally closed switch means operatively located in thepath of movement of said member and adapted to be opened uponpredetermined arching of said element to open the drive motor circuit;and reversing switch means controlling the direction of operation ofsaid motor having auxiliary push and pull contacts operative with thesetting of said reversing switch means to permit closing of said motorcircuit only in the push position when said normally closed switch meansare open and only in the pull position when said another normally closedswitch means are opened, as aforesaid.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said reversing switch comprises abrush shifting device for altering the energization of said drive motor,said push and pull contacts being integral with said brush shiftingdevice and operative therewith to open and closed conditions.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said brush shifting devicecomprises a pair of concentric relatively rotatable members and saidpush and pull contacts comprise pairs of contacts mounted on saidrotatable members, being adapted for overlapping engagement to establishelectrical continuity.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said relatively rotatable memberscomprise first and second concentric rings, said first ring supportingcontact devices for engagement with brushholders and for engagement withmovable contacts, and said second ring supporting said brushholders andsaid movable contacts for cooperation respectively with the commutatorof said reversible motor and said contact devices on said first ring,whereby repositioning of said second ring causes comple tion of themotor circuit in one of the push and pull directions.

1. In combination, spool means having an elongated element spirallycoiled therearound; a housing journaling said spool means and rotatablyembracing the outer convolution of said element and having a passagethrough which said element is adapted to be payed out and to be pulledin responsive to rotation of said spool means in opposite directions insaid housing; a reversible electric drive motor operatively connected tosaid spool means thus to rotate said spool means in opposite directionsin said housing; movable means mounted at the passage of said housing,being urged in the direction of payout of said element and adapted to bemoved inwardly with said element upon engagement with an enlargementthereon; normally closed switch means operatively located in the path ofmovement of said movable means and adapted to be opened uponpredetermined pulling in of said element to open the drive motorcircuit; a member mounted in said housing, being urged against the outerconvolution of said element and adapted to be moved away therefrom uponarching of said element away from said spool means due to resistance topayout; another normally closed switch means operatively located in thepath of movement of said member and adapted to be opened uponpredetermined arching of said eleMent to open the drive motor circuit;and reversing switch means controlling the direction of operation ofsaid motor having auxiliary push and pull contacts operative with thesetting of said reversing switch means to permit closing of said motorcircuit only in the push position when said normally closed switch meansare open and only in the pull position when said another normally closedswitch means are opened, as aforesaid.
 2. The combination of claim 1wherein said reversing switch comprises a brush shifting device foraltering the energization of said drive motor, said push and pullcontacts being integral with said brush shifting device and operativetherewith to open and closed conditions.
 3. The combination of claim 2wherein said brush shifting device comprises a pair of concentricrelatively rotatable members and said push and pull contacts comprisepairs of contacts mounted on said rotatable members, being adapted foroverlapping engagement to establish electrical continuity.
 4. Thecombination of claim 3 wherein said relatively rotatable memberscomprise first and second concentric rings, said first ring supportingcontact devices for engagement with brushholders and for engagement withmovable contacts, and said second ring supporting said brushholders andsaid movable contacts for cooperation respectively with the commutatorof said reversible motor and said contact devices on said first ring,whereby repositioning of said second ring causes completion of the motorcircuit in one of the push and pull directions.